The Hollywood Bowl officially launched its 90th season with a sold out star-studded Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame and Opening Night Concert last night.This year’s inductees – Grammy- and Emmy-winning singer/musician/actor Harry Connick, Jr. and Grammy-winning pop music superstar Gloria Estefan – as well as presenters cademy Award-winning actress Hilary Swank and award-winning actor Andy Garcia, plus host Academy Award-winning actress Helen Mirren – made for a memorable evening at the iconic venue.

Video montages of the honorees were shown on the Bowl’s four large screens, celebrating their career achievements before their performances. Adding to the excitement of the evening was an exclusive sneak preview of Cirque du Soleil’s first resident production in Los Angeles, IRIS, A Journey Through the World of Cinema.

The opening event of the Hollywood Bowl’s season also featured the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra (HBO) led by Principal Guest Conductor Thomas Wilkins, as well as a youth performance presenting student musicians from the James A. Foshay Learning Center and West Adams Preparatory High School. The Opening Night at the Hollywood Bowl benefit concert raised more than $1.25 million for the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s music education programs, which serve more than 120,000 youths, families and teachers every year.

The action-packed night kicked off with Wilkins and the HBO treating the audience to Dmitry Kabalevsky’s rousing Colas Breugnon Overture. Host Dame Helen Mirren welcomed the audience to the Bowl’s 90th season and introduced the special preview of Cirque du Soleil’s IRIS accompanied musically by Wilkins and the HBO performing an original composition by celebrated film and television composer Danny Elfman.

In its 27-year history encompassing thousands of performances all over the world, this was the first time Cirque du Soleil has performed with a symphony orchestra.The Hall of Fame induction ceremonies began with actress Hilary Swank, whose friendship with Harry Connick, Jr. dates back to when they appeared together in the 2007 film P.S. I Love You, introducing the video tribute showcasing highlights of Connick’s musical career.

Connick, one of the world’s most successful and multi-talented artists, then took the stage and launched into his well-loved “The Way You Look Tonight,” with his band, Wilkins and the HBO. After his acceptance speech, Connick, his band, Wilkins and the HBO continued with other hits such as “You Don’t Know Me,” “And I Love Her,” “Come By Me,” “It Had To Be You,” “Bourbon Street Parade,” and “Mardi Gras in New Orleans.”

The second half of the Hall of Fame and Opening Night Concert began with a look at the audience as the event’s chairs – Sandy and Barry Pressman, Barbara and Jay Rasulo, Jonathan Weedman and Raymundo Baltazar, and Josh and Melanie Kaplan – were acknowledged by the voice of the Hall of Fame concerts for all of their12 years, Classical KUSC FM 91.5’s Rich Capparela.

Back on the stage, Wilkins described the LA Phil’s music education programs, followed by a live demonstration showcasing the efforts of these programs as students from Los Angeles’ James A. Foshay Learning Center and West Adams Preparatory High School, led by conductor Vince Womack, performed James L. Hosey’s Heaven’s Valley.The Hall of Fame inductions resumed, as Andy Garcia, whose more than two-decade-long friendship with Gloria Estefan has included collaborating on numerous film and music projects, introduced a video of the singer’s impressive career highlights.

Estefan took the stage and launched into her inspirational anthem, “Get On Your Feet,” accompanied by her band, Wilkins and the HBO. Following her acceptance speech, the “Queen of Latin Pop” engaged the crowd with “Mi Tierra” featuring a surprise accompaniment on percussion by Andy Garcia. Estefan, her band, Wilkins and the HBO continued with “Reach,” and fan-favorite “Conga.”

Connick and members of his band returned to the stage to join Estefan, Wilkins and the HBO in a duet of “Come Rain or Come Shine.”

The evening’s performances wrapped with a reprise of “Conga” by Estefan’s band, Wilkins and the HBO, accompanied by a spectacular fireworks display. The Hall of Fame is now part of an exhibit on the main floor of the Hollywood Bowl Museum that includes photos and film of inductees over the years. The “Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame” was conceived on behalf of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association by Wayne Baruch and Charles F. Gayton, who have created and produced all 12 Hall of Fame opening concerts.

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